One of the critical volunteer positions we have here at The Big Chili Cook-Off is that of Art Director. This job reqires just the right person, someone knowledgeable about both art and business … someone like Susan Freilicher.

Susan Freilicher loves art and artists and has devoted her working life to the creative arts. She currently does marketing consulting with artists and galleries and other small businesses and sits on the Board of Advisors for the Mizel Museum in Denver.

Green Toasties

Her creative endeavors started in Manhattan where she helped launch the Dyansty fragrances Krystal and Carrington based on the nighttime drama that everyone loved so much! She stayed in the fragrance and cosmetic industry working for several major companies until a move to Santa Fe in 1992.

It was in Santa Fe that Susan became involved with the western art community. After directing two art galleries there, she came to Colorado and joined Southwest Art Magazine where she finished her tenure as Publisher in 2009. Susan loves the art community and her clients can see it in her genuine enthusiasm for them and their work. With Susan, the artists can focus on their art, letting Susan make her extensive marketing background work for them.

We love all of our volunteers here at The Big Chili Cook-Off, but a couple of positions require a huge amount of work and organization and are critical to making the Cook-Off run smoothly. One of these is the volunteer coordinator who schedules hundreds of people to work throughout the festival.

Vicki Renfro is a local artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. For 15 years she worked as an engineer, but continued to enjoy her art and was able to display her work in Tucson galleries.

Time Traveler

For the last 18 years, she has been an artist at Zuni Signs and now has the pleasure of painting in her studio again.
You can see Vicki’s art at various venues. She has showings at:
Colorado Mountain Gallery in Georgetown
Mountain Homes beginning June 29th (last Friday gallery walk) through July.
Open Door Studio Sept 15 and 16th.
To see more of her wok, please check her website at www.vickirenfro.artspan.com.

Last year at The Big Chili Cook-Off, we had many gifted local artisans displaying and selling their wares at vendor booths. Our art vendors were in the Lake House, and it was a favorite spot of many.

We love having local artists as well as business vendors at the event. Along with our activities, children’s area, chili cooks and emergency service vehicles, we end up with a full, fun and exciting event.

What more would you like to see? You are a part of this, and we’d love to have your input. If you have any ideas, please share them here.